United States and Colombia Sign Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding

On September 8, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco·Rubio, Colombian President Abelardo·de la Espriella, and Colombian Foreign Minister Omar·Blas·Escobar attended the signing ceremony of two memoranda of understanding in Barranquilla, Colombia. The related report was published and updated on September 9, 2026.

Under the signing arrangement, the first document is a framework memorandum of understanding between the U.S. government and the Colombian government on securing the mining and processing supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements; the second document is a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. government and the Government of the Republic of Colombia on strategic civil nuclear cooperation.

Following the signing ceremony, Rubio stated that the United States and Colombia can pursue further cooperation in energy, trade, and commerce to benefit both nations. The two sides held a bilateral meeting prior to the signing, with discussions covering investments in areas such as energy, logistics, and transportation infrastructure.

De la Espriella stated that the meeting produced a bilateral roadmap known as the "Barranquilla Accord," with an agenda covering infrastructure reconstruction, economic recovery, and the advancement of cooperative projects. He also noted that the two sides had identified cooperation opportunities in areas including infrastructure, technology, industry, reconstruction, and critical minerals, which encompass the agreements signed on this occasion.